Is this device an improved model?

[slepr]

Hi,

I've had the Philips Respironics - M Series BIPAP Auto with Bi-Flex since 2007, seems to work OK. My doctor is suggesting I get a new device, with a possible new one being a similar model: Philips Respironics - PR System One REMstar BiPAP Auto with Bi-Flex.

Does anyone know if the newer model IS an improvement over the older model? Any algorithm or other functional changes? Or is it just another typical model upgrade to make money for the manufacturer?

Thanks

[nanwilson]

All M series were discontinued, I believe in 2010....so if you are going to get a new one you will have to get the latest model.
I would keep the old M series as a back up though, really comes in handy if there is a problem...or like me, I have one in the house and one in the motorhome .

[slepr]

I do plan to keep the existing unit. I am wanting to know if the newer models are any 'better', have their been tangible improvements in the system?
Does anyone know?

[chunkyfrog]

I'm not a Bipap user, so not an expert on the machines, so can't help you there.
In most cases, you are eligible after 5 years for a new machine with insurance, even Medicare.
The older a machine gets, the more likely it will be to break down.
Repair may take longer due to parts availability.
If you are paying out of pocket, our host site (cpap.com) sells them for less than most DME's.
(--shameless plug, my way of saying thanks for this forum )

[Pugsy]

There are new features to the PR S1 machines...new improvements on humidification delivery...additional data points being offered (clear airway events, RERAs, wave flow form data, periodic breathing) that are potential benefits for evaluating problematic therapy.
I don't know if the algorithm itself was changed.
Supposedly the PR S1 machines are quieter. Better ways of addressing leaks instead of chasing them.

You can read up on all the new stuff here. Multiple links to different features are on the right side.
http://respironicssleeptherapysystems.respironics.com/

If you don't care about data and you feel great...it may not be important to you.
The new PR S1 uses a SD card for data storage and there is no need to use a special card reader to use the software.
SleepyHead (links in my signature) works with the new machines. Also check on my link for PR S1 software options in my signature.

I started out 3 years ago with a M series APAP machine. Upgraded in spring 2011 to a PR S1 machine because I am a data geek and just wanted to see the extra data. Didn't start using bilevel machine till last fall on a whim so I can't compare M series APAP to PR S1 Bilevel machine.
There are definitely some new features and for some people these would be considered "improvements" but some people might not care about the new features.
For me after dealing with rainout in the wintertime....the new PR S1 humidification system is definitely a plus and that alone would be worth it for me.
My profile shows the ResMed machine right now because I started using it earlier this year but I used PR S1 machine until last spring.

[archangle]

The newer machines have some advantages.

1) Much better data collection. Easier to read the data, since you don't have to use a special proprietary card reader. Especially useful is the collection of airflow waveforms. It shows the airflow for every breath during the night. It's extremely useful to figure out what's happening if you have any problems with your therapy. It's like having an EKG vs. blood pressure and pulse for diagnosing heart problems.

Being able to distinguish a central apnea from an obstructive apnea is very important, since you have to treat them differently.

2) Some M series machines have an AC powered humidifier. The PRS1 humidifier runs off of DC. It's much easier to run off of a battery.

Some people find they're bothered by different algorithms, any machine change will be better for some and worse for others.

It's really good to have a spare CPAP machine around as a backup in case you have a problem with one. If your out of pocket expense is not too high, get it just for that reason. At some point in time, your current machine will probably fail.

[slepr]

Spare machine: yep, good to have if affordable.

Thank you for the feedback so far. I use the data features extensively and plan to only get a machine that I can monitor my own therapy. It is nice they have gone to a simple SD card.

>>Being able to distinguish a central apnea from an obstructive apnea is very important, since you have to treat them differently.
Can you elaborate on this comment 'treating it differently'? Is this machine capable of treating Centrals as well as OSA?

[Pugsy]

Can you elaborate on this comment 'treating it differently'? Is this machine capable of treating Centrals as well as OSA?

Regular cpap/apap machines don't treat centrals at all. In fact they make a point to ignore them because they don't want to maybe make the centrals worse.
A few centrals here and there are normal and do not warrant treatment or concern.
For people who happen to have either predominately central sleep apnea (pretty much all centrals) or a high number of centrals mixed in with obstructive sleep apnea events (complex sleep apnea) then those people need a different type of machine to help them deal with the centrals. In addition there is a small percentage of cpap users who never really had any centrals to speak of during the diagnostic sleep study who end up having a large number of centrals with the introduction of cpap pressure. Commonly thought of as a by product of higher pressures but really aren't tied to high pressures alone....they can emerge with any pressure...even as little as 6 or 7 cm. These people also need a special machine.

The pre System One machines didn't separate centrals from obstructives...they just got lumped into the obstructive or hyponea category. They still wouldn't "treat" the centrals but instead still chose to ignore them but there was no way to tell if you were really having centrals or not except maybe if we saw a cluster of events and the machine was sitting by and doing nothing. That would lead us to believe that the events being flagged weren't obstructive in nature because the machine didn't try to fix them.

Newer technology lets us see the picture more clearly and make the best possible choices given the available data.
If your AHI was always pretty low on the M series machine and you slept good and felt good then it is likely that you don't/won't have any issues with centrals and the additional data won't do anything but confirm what you already expected.
I found this out when I changed from my M series APAP to the PR S1 APAP. I saw pretty much what I expected to see...sort of confirmed what I already felt. Minimal centrals and a well treated obstructive sleep apnea. I have a few centrals now and then which are no big deal. I do on occasion have some really weird stuff show up that defies explanation but since those times are extremely rare I don't do much except "wonder" what went on.

I am sort of a data hound so the additional information provided by the PR S1 machine was something that I enjoyed having.
Not that it changed my treatment or anything but the security of knowing more of the details was reassuring to me.
Peace of mind is worth something.